Rocket explodes in open area in Sdot Negev Regional Council; no injuries reported; Israeli aircraft retaliate with attacks on terror facility, arms cache in southern Strip

Ilana Curiel, Yoav Zitun|Last update: 28.04.13 , 13:14

A rocket fired by Palestinian terrorists in Gaza
late Saturday night toward the Sdot Negev Regional Council exploded in an open area, near a local community, as Israelis were celebrating Lag B'Omer.
There were no reports of injury or damage.

The exact landing site of the rocket has yet to be located. A few hours after the rocket attack, the IDF
Spokesperson's Unit announced that Israeli aircraft attacked overnight Sunday a terror facility and a weapons cache in south Gaza. Direct hits were confirmed. The army said the aerial strikes came in response to the rocket fire from the Hamas-ruled
territory.

Following the rocket fire, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Brigadier General Eitan Dangot ordered the Kerem Shalom Crossing be closed down for the passage of goods.

The Erez Crossing at the northern Gaza Strip will remain open for humanitarian cases only.

During the wekly cabinet meeting Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Israel will not accept sporadic rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu referred to the IAF's strike in Gaza on Saturday night and added: "Israel will do what's necessary to defend its citizens."

The rocket fire on Israel's southern region resumed shortly after Operation Pillar of Defense
in Gaza. In early April it was reported that the US plans to invest an additional $400 million in the Iron Dome
missile defense system over the next few years.

Despite US budget cuts in military spending, the US will spend an extra $220 million in the proven defense system in fiscal year 2014, and an extra $176 million in 2015. The Pentagon invested $204 million in Iron Dome in 2011 and $70 million in 2012.

According to the New York Times, the Iron Dome system intercepted 421 rockets fired from Gaza during Operation Pillar of Defense, with an 84% success rate.